Related stories

Last summer a man died after a fire tore through an outbuilding he was living inside in Uxbridge, which had been converted into illegal accommodation. There were no smoke alarms and a broken lock meant he was unable to escape.

At the end of April a woman living in a garage under flats in Wandsworth was taken to hospital after fire broke out. It is thought the fire was caused by a candle falling over while she was asleep.

Dave Brown, third officer for the LFB, said: “It’s a tragedy that in this day and age we’ve got people living in factories, sheds, and outbuildings in scenes reminiscent of a Charles Dickens novel.

“When people are forced to live in these sorts of buildings, they are at a far greater risk of having a fire as the buildings often don’t contain vital safety features like fire doors and alarms, which can be the difference between life and death.

“Starting with our own staff, we are working to educate those who come into contact with unsuitable accommodation and those who live in it to try and prevent further beds in sheds fire tragedies.”